A woman checked out of a hotel in Florida and informed the staff that she has intended to embark on a shooting spree guided by God due to the solar eclipse, despite Florida not being in the path of the celestial event.
Subsequently, she shot at two drivers on Interstate 10 before being arrested and charged with attempted murder by the Florida Highway Patrol on Monday.
Woman Fires at Two Drivers on Interstate 10
Taylon Nichelle Celestine, aged 22, from Georgia, entered the highway at approximately 115 miles (180 kilometers) from the Alabama border in the Florida Panhandle and proceeded westward.
Within a distance of 5 miles (8 kilometers), she discharged several rounds into a passing vehicle, causing damage to the auto glass and grazing the driver's arm, as stated by the department.
Following this, she targeted a second vehicle, striking the driver in the neck, resulting in injury. The wounded driver was quickly taken to a nearby hospital and got medical treatment, according to the agency.
Troopers intercepted the female after she had driven at approximately 16 miles (26 kilometers) and found that she had an AR-15 rifle and a 9mm firearm in her possession.
She was arrested and placed in the Holmes County jail, where she was charged with attempted murder, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, and an improper firearm discharge.
Details regarding bail or Celestine's legal representation were not provided by the Florida Highway Patrol.
Troubled Woman Asserts She Received Directives from "God" via Solar Eclipse
A disturbed woman unleashed gunfire on a Florida interstate, targeting two drivers, claiming she received an instruction from "God" through the solar eclipse, as per police reports.
Driving a purple Dodge Challenger with Georgia license plates, Celestine entered Interstate 10 at the 112-mile marker and began shooting at other vehicles within five miles of joining the highway in Washington County, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
Allegedly, she fired multiple shots at a passing car on the interstate. The male driver of the vehicle endured a bullet graze on his arm and was hit by glass shards when the bullet broke his window into small pieces, the agency reported.
Continuing westward on I-10, the thoughtless shooter, reportedly armed with both an assault rifle and a handgun, opened fire on a second vehicle near the 107-mile marker, the highway patrol said.
Celestine persisted in driving until highway patrol troopers intercepted her near the 96-mile marker and conducted a traffic stop.
Officers purportedly retrieved an AR-15 rifle and a 9mm handgun from the Challenger. Celestine was taken into custody without refusal and was transferred to Holmes County Jail, where she was accused of attempted murder, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, and improper use of a firearm.
It remains unclear which firearm she purportedly used to target the other drivers and whether they were obtained legally. The investigation regarding thi case is still ongoing.